Women's Day 2024: Women surrendering to the might of the male in Malayalam cinema

Manju Warrier in the Mohanlal-starrer Aaram Thampuran (1997).

Bhanumati (Revathi) in Ranjith’s Devasuram (1993) is the proverbial lioness — obstinate, strong-willed, and ambitious. She is impervious to the clout of the arrogant, feudal, rich brat Neelakandan. When humiliated she doesn’t flinch; rather she is determined to make him pay for his misdeeds. She even rebuffs his request to continue her dance career. But alas, she prostrates at his feet, under the shield of devoted love, and happily forsakes her blooming career to be with him. “All I want is a chance to serve you, my lord,” she implores him. It’s mortifying to see him cut her down to size — to a mere prop to the indomitable alpha male.

Revathi in Devasuram.

In Aaram Thampuran, the feisty Unnimaya (Manju Warrier), who initially gives us hope with her spirited verbal pow-vows with the hero, is soon left in the lurch. As she eavesdrops on Jagannathan’s (Mohanlal) conversation with his “modern girlfriend” where he declares his love for Unnimaya, her eyes light up with joy and gratitude. And then he adds that worn-out patronising dialogue — “It is just not love, I want to give her a life.”

You would think the bold and fun-loving Abhirami (Manju Warrier) in Summer In Bethlehem would have agency. But then not only is her initial spirit just a façade to hide a broken heart but eventually she is forced to marry a man against her wishes as it is her lover’s last wish. In the very next (last) scene, bafflingly, she seems to have come to terms with it.

Manju Warrier in Summer In Bethlehem.

In Narasimham, the feisty Anuradha (Aishwarya Bhaskaran) not only holds double post-graduation degrees but also seems to have a mind of her own. Therefore her proposal to Induchoodan (Mohanlal) aligns with her spirit but what is unpardonable is the desperation shown when the hero patronisingly accepts her proposal with the following regressive conditions. She doesn’t even seem to mind when he sneakily suggests that she is indeed in desperate need of a man!

A still from Narasimhan.

In Raavanaprabhu, heroine Dr Janaki’s (Vasundhara Das, of Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding fame) magnanimous fiancé passes her over to her “childhood hero” Karthikeyan (Mohanlal) and she silently (and shyly) accepts the verdict. This is despite the havoc he creates in her life and hospital.

Mohanlal and Vasundhara Das in Raavanaprabhu.

Bhanumati (Manju Warrier) in Kanmadham runs her household consisting of her sisters and grandmom efficiently, bravely keeping the lascivious men at bay.  All that gets diluted when her brother’s friend Viswanathan (Mohanlal) walks in from nowhere. Not only is Bhanumati’s tough exterior brushed aside as a mask to hide her bleeding heart, but he also forcefully kisses her to show his power. What’s worse is that Bhanumati succumbs and happily allows him to take the lead.

Manju Warrier and Mohanlal in Kanmadham.

After that humiliating tongue lashing from her senior Joseph Alex (Mammootty) in The King (1995), you would think the spunky Anura Mukerjee (Vani Viswanath) would put in her papers. Sure, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol to get over the disgrace but then it is Joseph who also takes her home when she passes out at the bar. In a split second, the woman falls for his charms and allows herself to act as the honeytrap of a politician.

Mammootty and Vani Viswanath in The King (1995).

Journalist Devika Shekar (Manju Warrier) in Pathram is introduced in the middle of a heated verbal exchange with a top police official. She easily cuts him down to size. She is also a firebrand at work, righteous and fearless but all that is easily forgotten with the entry of hero Nandagopal (Suresh Gopy). Not only does he patronizingly put her down on various occasions, but towards the end, her spirit seems to have been completely diffused and Devika ends up as a crying caricature.